VOA News | Tuesday, March 26, 2024 
Israel-US Diplomatic Spat Complicates Gaza Situation 

Washington — White House officials said Monday that they were “perplexed” and “disappointed” that Israel’s leader called off a delegation meant to discuss U.S. concerns about his imminent plans to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah. But they said Monday they would use a trio of high-level U.S. meetings with Israel’s defense minister, including talks with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday, to press their case. “We’re kind of perplexed by this,” said White House national security communications adviser John Kirby, who acknowledged that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reason for abruptly pulling back his delegation was his objection to the U.S. decision to abstain from a Monday U.N. vote calling for a Gaza cease-fire. “In light of the change in the American position, Prime Minister Netanyahu decided the delegation would not leave,” his office said in a statement. The U.S., citing its support for Israel’s right to defend itself, has previously wielded its veto power in the U.N. Security Council to block similar cease-fire calls since the start of the conflict more than five months ago. “Our vote does not — I repeat — does not represent a shift in our policy,” Kirby said. “We’ve been very clear. We’ve been very consistent in our…Read more